MARYSVILLE — A Lake Stevens couple who allegedly exposed a baby to second-hand meth smoke inside a car has been arrested for investigation of criminal mistreatment and endangering a child.
Authorities turned the baby over the Child Protective Services.
A witness concerned about the baby’s safety called 911 Friday evening to report the pair was smoking meth inside a sport utility vehicle with the 11-month-old baby inside.
Police arrived at the 6100 block of 57th Ave. NE to find the man, 35, sitting in the driver’s seat and the woman, 22, holding the baby in the front passenger seat.
“She appeared to be high, also known as tweaking, on methamphetamine with sudden jerky movements, unable to concentrate, repeating herself and very constricted pupils even though she had been sitting in the dark,” the officer wrote in court papers.
The baby had on a shirt and diaper, but no pants, socks or shoes. The child was crying and appeared to be cold and hungry, court papers said. It was 38 degrees outside and the vehicle was without heat because it was out of gas so the heater couldn’t be used. There was no blanket in the vehicle to keep the baby warm.
The woman allegedly admitted that she and her boyfriend had been smoking meth inside the vehicle shortly before the officer arrived. The man acknowledged they smoked meth but denied they did so in the vehicle.
A witness told police he walked by the vehicle and saw the baby in the backseat and the couple smoking meth with the car doors closed and windows rolled up.
The woman told the officer she’s used meth for about six years and had been using it every day for about a month.
She has two other children, ages 5 and 6. Those children were with their father the evening she was arrested, court papers said.
The woman allegedly admitted that all three children have been exposed to second-hand meth smoke multiple times, including an incident last week when they all were in the car at the same time. She said she and her boyfriend smoked meth while he was driving.
The couple also has been jailed for investigation of incest. The pair reportedly have the same mother but different fathers, court papers said.
The woman told police she is an unfit mother and not able to take care of her children.
A judge set bail at $150,000 for both suspects.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com
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